CHAPTER 19“Big Landis lost his nerve and sidestepped at the last minute, and then the whole gang faded.” That was the way the rumors of the affair always ended at each repetition in Lebrun’s and Milligan’s that night. The Corner had had many things to talk about during its brief existence, but nothing to compare with a man who entered a shooting scrape with such a fellow as Scar-faced Lewis all for the sake of a spray of mint. And the main topic of conversation was: Did Donnegan aim at the body or the hand of the bouncer? On the whole, it was an excellent thing for Milligan’s. The place was fairly well crowded, with a few vacant tables. For everyone wanted to hear Milligan’s version of the affair. He had a short and vigorous one, trimmed with neat oaths. It was all the girl in the blue c

